By Adriana Flores Solis, March 18, 2025
Keeping up with celebrities has become more than just watching their films and listening to their music. They are now speaking out more than ever against issues that concern them, as well as marginalized communities. “No Other Land” won the Oscar for best documentary feature at the 97th Oscar’s ceremony. The film shows the destruction and ethnic cleansing of Masafer Yatta, a region on the West Bank in Palestine.
Basel Adra, a Palestinian film director and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli film director who accepted the award on stage, advocated for peace and the liberation of Palestinians in Gaza. With ongoing war conflicts, this was a delicate topic to mention in front of Hollywood’s socialites.
“‘No Other Land’ reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist, as we call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people,” Adra said.
The directors used their speech time on live television to speak about an issue that is personal not only to them, but also millions who are currently being affected.
Filmmakers and artists have a platform that can reach the masses. Whether it’s a film, song or their social media accounts, they can use their fame to speak for underrepresented communities, with some being minorities themselves.
Back in 2020, “This Is Us” star Lonnie Chavis shared his racist experiences as a young Black actor. He talks about the lack of diversity in Hollywood, as well as a personal story where his father was racially profiled by law enforcement.
These moments of transparency and realness are necessary. It humanizes the personal struggles that celebrities face themselves and brings up important topics that can affect anyone, regardless of their status.
Having the platform to do so is already a big advantage. We are also living in a time where the current presidential administration is targeting communities of color.
It is no longer a debate on which political party has better ideas. It now comes down to morals and choosing to care about basic human rights.
Celebrities who showed their support for a particular candidate during the 2024 presidential election either lost or gained a following online.
Social media is a great outlet for expression, but it also serves as an informative space for people to learn more about different political views. It can even influence them to change their opinions or change which political party they support.
Some individuals dislike when politics intertwine with interests, while others strongly support artists that publicly speak out against issues that affect them.
In times when basic human rights are at stake, celebrities should use their voice and platform to advocate for those who are less privileged.
Mathieu Hernandez, a criminology student at Cal Poly Pomona, said he believes celebrities should use their platform to speak out and give a voice to those who don’t have one.
“I think politics and celebrities should mix, because celebrities have a platform that could reach the masses,” said Hernandez. “They have a larger voice to advocate for certain social issues. They should mix. They should not be separate.”
Compton native rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 9.
The stage design was set to represent a PlayStation controller. The performance was opened by Samuel L. Jackson who was dressed as Uncle Sam, a figure often used as a depiction of the United States.
Lamar had all-Black dancers dressed in vibrant red, white and blue colors.
“The revolution ‘bout to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy,” Lamar said.
This was more than a performance. It was a political statement.
Uncle Sam later returned to the stage and said Lamar was being “too reckless, too loud, too ghetto.”
Right-wing Republicans criticized the performance on social media, calling it the same words Lamar sang: loud and ghetto.
Lamar created a political statement that did not appeal to everyone, which was expected since viewers worldwide have different racial views. He called out the oppression and racial injustice that millions are facing under the current president’s administration.
Calling out an administration that is setting us backwards is necessary to preserve our democracy and ensure that minorities are not disregarded.
While celebrities cannot solve all of society’s issues, they can influence their followers to be more socially aware, as well as share a message that will be seen by millions.
Lamar showed us how to play the game, and he ultimately won. The others should follow.
Feature image by Connor Lālea Hampton
